Spring/Summer 2010
Transcription
Spring/Summer 2010
www.mortarboard.org The official publication of Mortar Board, Inc. MORTAR BOARD FORUM Spring 2010 Vol. 40 Issue No. 2 Mortar Board supports alma maters An artist’s depiction of Mortar Board Court at The Ohio State University Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society Scholars...Chosen for Leadership...United to Serve MORTAR BOARD FORUM CContents • Spring S i 2010 3 Words of my mentors: one brick higher! 4 Virtual Book Drive raised more than $25,000 in 2009 4 Service-learning in higher education 5 Mortar Board supports alma maters 6 8 Mortar Board in the 1940s: a world at war 10 Mortar Board member’s generosity featured on NBC Member News 11 2009 Annual Report 12 On Campus 18 Mortar Board: a family tradition 23 President’s Message National President Daniel J. Turner addresses members with a challenge for strategic planning. Executive Director Jane Hamblin pays homage to those who have influenced her life in this regular Forum column. Dozens of Mortar Board chapters participated in the second annual “Reading is Leading” Virtual Book Drive. Learn about service-learning, a hands-on approach to learning, and its role in higher education. The spotlight shines on chapters and members who provide support to their colleges and universities. We take a look into the past and how World War II affected Mortar Board and women as a whole. Read about how alumna Shirley Brooks-Jones turned tragedy to opportunity. Mortar Board members receive prestigious scholarships, awards and honors. Mortar Board reports its progress and annual financial position while recognizing valued donors. Take a look at what is going on with Mortar Board’s exemplary collegiate chapters. Generations and siblings share the pride of Mortar Board membership. In Memoriam Members departed in 2009 Joan Hickey Brown, The University of Miami Jean Blake Carr, The Ohio State University Kathleen Fockler Curley, University of Arizona Jean Curpen Dones, Miami University Louise Henderson Dye, The Pennsylvania State University Lois Jennings Guthrie, The Ohio State University Ora Mae Welcher Harding, University of Illinois Selma Bronston Harris, The University of Miami Nancy Holz, The University of Miami Eldora Green James, Oregon State University Robert Knoll, The University of Nebraska - Lincoln William Morgan, Colorado State University Winifred Harrison Nelson, Knox College Carol Rojan Pietsch, University of Idaho Peggy Marchant Rutland, The University of Oklahoma Mary Jean Brinton Swank, Ohio Wesleyan University Ann York, Bucknell University 2 Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 Congratulations These chapters are celebrating anniversaries! 10th Anniversary University of San Diego The University of Texas at San Antonio Western New England College 15th Anniversary Northwest Missouri State University 25th Anniversary Coe College West Texas A & M University 50th Anniversary University of Delaware University of Florida 75th Anniversary Birmingham-Southern College The Pennsylvania State University President’s Message In January, the national leaders of Mortar Board came together for a leadership and development meeting. We shared stories about how we were tapped into Mortar Board, how this terrific Society has played a role in our lives, and how proud we are to call ourselves Mortar Board members for life. The 30-or-so leaders in the room—of all ages and backgrounds and chapters—also shared something else—a creative experience like none other. We developed a five-year Strategic Plan full of goals to lead Mortar Board to its centennial in 2018. Participating in our national strategic planning process and seeing other leaders’ devotion to our Society got me thinking about how Mortar Board collegiate chapters can and should create their own strategic plans. Nearly all collegiate chapter leaders serve one-year terms in their senior year. If they had a strategic plan built for a few years instead of just one, would it be better for the health of the chapter? I say yes. Is it a “cop out” for one chapter to follow the direction of the former? Well, no, not if that direction leads to successful implementation of the ideals of Mortar Board such as visibility on campus, doing something for your alma mater that makes a difference and makes a splash, increasing the number of nominations or applications for membership, and expanding the chapter’s size and diversity … all of these things are relevant to scholarship, leadership and service. So, I say to you, be strategic. Plan for several years and imbue new officers with the fundamentals of that strategy. Tactics may vary from year to year, but a comprehensive, long-term strategy will make your chapter grow and prosper. Something else is on my mind, and that is recruitment. I urge chapters to set very solid goals regarding the way new members are recruited. Several chapters have asked me about this, and I always say, “It’s one of the most important things you can do: recognize the outstanding leadership of those who come after you.” Don’t put membership selection off as an afterthought! Put a lot of energy into planning chapter recruitment efforts. Here are just a few things you can do: Make sure Mortar Board’s name is out on campus year round. Let the faculty know about Mortar Board by visiting with the heads of departments on campus. Make an appointment with the president of your campus at least once a year (I really like it when the outgoing president of the chapter introduces the incoming chapter president). Make sure that the chief student affairs officer on your campus has a visit from Mortar Board at least once a term. Host a roundtable each year for all major student organization leadership. In essence, showcase Mortar Board as the premier national senior honor society … As we approach our next leadership landmark, the 2010 Mortar Board National Conference in Chicago, I hope that you will join me in talking about the strategy for making Mortar Board even greater than it is. I will be glad to talk with you about strategy, recruitment and more. I hope to see you there, July 23-25. y, Sincerely, Daniel J. Turner Mortar Board, Inc. National President president@mortarboard.org danturner13@gmail.com MORTAR BOARD FORUM ® WWW.MORTARBOARD.ORG SPRING 2010 VOLUME 40, NUMBER 2 EDITOR Alicia Notestone, anotestone@mortarboard.org EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jane A. Hamblin, jhamblin@mortarboard.org EDITORIAL OFFICE Mortar Board National Office 1200 Chambers Road, Suite 201 Columbus, Ohio 43212 Phone: 800-989-6266 ext. 106 E-mail: mbforum@mortarboard.org Web site: www.mortarboard.org Mortar Board publishes the Forum twice annually (fall and spring) in Columbus, Ohio, for Mortar Board members and alumni. Issues are sent to the permanent addresses of collegiate members. For others wishing to receive the Forum, the subscription rate is $15 per year. If you do not wish to receive the Forum, please notify the National Office. Articles and submissions to the editor are welcome and may be sent to the National Office. Deadlines are March 15 for the spring issue and October 15 for the fall issue. Photographs will not be returned unless requested. Please contact the National Office for advertising rates. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced or translated without written permission. Direct requests for reprint permission to the editor. MORTAR BOARD, INC. MISSION (Adopted 1994) Mortar Board, Inc., an honor society that recognizes college seniors for their achievements in scholarship, leadership and service, provides opportunities for continued leadership development, promotes service to colleges and universities and encourages lifelong contributions to the global community. NATIONAL FOUNDATION MISSION The mission of the Mortar Board National Foundation is to support Mortar Board, Inc. in furthering the ideals of scholarship, leadership and service. To view Mortar Board’s code of ethics and values statement (adopted in 2005), please visit our Web site at www.mortarboard.org. P.S. Remember, we have a brand new advisor certification program to help chapter advisors become the best they can be at advising. This is going to be a great experience. Advisors, please attend! Editor’s note: More information about attending the 2010 Mortar Board National Conference can be found at www.mortarboard.org/conference. Cover art is a watercolor painted by the late Leland S. McClelland in 1989. Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 3 National News By Jane A. Hamblin “One brick higher” was the stirring promise made by Purdue University president James Smart when he vowed that Heavilon Hall would be rebuilt. The brand new building had exploded and burned to the ground — just four days after its dedication in 1894. Dazed but undaunted Jane A. Hamblin the day after the tragedy, Mortar Board Executive Director the entire community, inspired by the president’s ringing promise, squared its collective shoulders and began to rebuild. “One brick higher” has come to mind often throughout my six months as executive director of our Society. Mortar Board members around the country, even when facing the nearly insurmountable, find ways to add, always going beyond the norm. There’s the chapter advisor who has provided funding to our “pay-it-forward” fund so that other advisors might attend our 2010 Mortar Board National Conference. There’s the president who cleverly pulled together the executive committee in a refreshing way to refocus the chapter mid year, the section coordinator who artfully helped a chapter create an upward trend in membership, and the alumna who called with her credit card number to pay the dues of a cash-strapped collegiate member. These leaders are expert at mixing the mortar of leadership to lay a course for our Society better, stronger, and, yes, higher than it was before. Oh, and what about that new building … was it one brick higher? No. It was nine! “Words of my mentors” pays tribute to the scholars and servant-leaders who have influenced my life. I was reminded of the relatability of the “one brick higher” story by Betty M. Nelson, Mortar Board honorary member, dean emerita of students at Purdue University and mentor extraordinaire. 4 Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 Words of my mentors One brick higher! Virtual Book Drive raised more than $25,000 in 2009 By Alicia Notestone The second annual Virtual Book Drive, held in conjunction with national nonprofit First Book and Mortar Board’s “Reading is Leading” national project, successfully raised $25,478.85 to contribute to the battle against illiteracy. A total of 56 chapters participated in this fundraising challenge. Illiteracy is linked to nearly every major socioeconomic crisis today. Children who cannot read are statistically more likely as adults to suffer poor health, struggle in the job market, rely on government assistance, and find themselves in the criminal justice system. Since 2002, Mortar Board has made a national commitment to combat illiteracy with the “Reading is Leading” initiative. First Book provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy – access to books. Since its founding nearly 20 years ago, First Book has delivered more than 65 million books to programs serving children in need across the United States and Canada. The Virtual Book Drive allows Mortar Board chapters, alumni and friends to join forces to provide funds to programs in their communities so that local children from low-income backgrounds can be presented with their first new book. The chapters who raised the most in 2009 are: • Hope College - raised $8,535.38 • Kansas State University - raised $3,060.04 • Western New England College - raised $2,157.00 Honorable mentions (listed in alphabetical order): • Case Western Reserve University • Indiana University of Pennsylvania • University of Montana • University of Northern Colorado • Seattle Pacific University Hope College not only received the top award for the overall chapter challenge, using their funds to support Pine Creek Elementary School, but also received each monthly top donor award during the drive for August, September, October and November. This made it possible for the chapter to donate their monthly prizes, $400 in Borders gift cards, to a second recipient, CASA (Children’s After School Achievement). The 2010 Virtual Book Drive will launch on July 24 and last through November 12. For more information, please visit www.mortarboard. org/FirstBook. Service-learning Service-learning in higher education By B. Lara Lee, Ph.D. (Salem College), member of the Mortar Board Communications Committee Is service-learning new to higher education? With the seemingly more aggressive and visible implementation of service-learning in higher education, it may appear that this methodology is fairly new to the academic horizon of diverse pedagogies. In fact, service-learning in its various forms originated in the early 1900s, with groups such as the Cooperative Education Movement of 1903; and continued with the establishment of the Peace Corps in 1961. By 1971, what initially began as the National Student Volunteer Program was reestablished as the National Center for Service-Learning. From the 1970s, to the present, a number of programs have been founded which provide volunteerism, experiential learning, internships, field experiences and student teaching. The national outgrowth of these pioneering programs has resulted in the promotion of community partnerships, increased awareness of health and socioeconomic conditions, and heightened understanding of cultural diversity, multiculturalism and pluralism. Service-learning palpably and uniquely extends the boundaries of the classroom experience by engaging students in the culture and spirit of service. The renowned progressive educator and pragmatist John Dewey addressed the fact that authentic learning occurs beyond the confines of the traditional classroom; whereby students experience greater democracy and freedom of thought and action. Ernest Boyer, distinguished educator, former commissioner of education, and past president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, was well recognized for the challenge he presented to institutions of higher learning when declaring that education should promote more responsible citizens and not merely prepare students for careers. Service-learning in higher education awakens the mind to possibilities outside the concerns and rights of the individual alone. This pedagogical approach strives to put theory into practice through learning encounters. Indeed, educational objectives are met, appropriate evaluations received, and course credit earned. Crucial is the fact, however, that students are engaged in actual community-driven issues that test critical thinking, foment cognitive skills, and sharpen interpersonal communicative competency and decision making skills while honing leadership and sound ethics among other preferred qualities. In brief, institutions of higher learning interested in the development and implementation of service-learning programs first identify the mission, goals and category of service-learning their institution hopes to establish and imprint. Course development and requisite information are then formalized. Close consideration is given to a specified template such as the ComprehensiveAction Plan for Service-learning (CAPSL) for implementing programs. The recruitment of community resources in which to partner begins, and continues to mature over time. The specific and careful training of faculty in service-learning methods and evaluation is pivotal to successful teaching and learning experiences and outcomes. In sum, service-learning in its various forms has had a rather long history in the United States. The level of interest and participation has ebbed and flowed within the academia. The current invigoration is unparalleled. Research, faculty and institutional commitment, as well as increased student motivation, viably demonstrate a greater awareness and understanding of our highly interdependent global community. Service-learning programs are located in many countries around the world, further expanding service and learning partnerships for U.S. students. The relevance and application of service-learning, academic achievement, social benefits for students, and the contributions made to underrepresented communities all resoundingly emphasize the need and continued advocacy of service-oriented learning in developing student lives and knowledge within higher education while making a positive difference in the world. Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. - National Service-Learning Clearinghouse Service-learning is an increasingly popular method for combining meaningful service with instruction and reflection, either inside or outside of the classroom at all education levels. This handson approach to learning has been an extremely successful method of teaching. Here’s an example: Mortar Board members in Section 22 annually participate in the Garden of the Gods Section Project. This often requires that the chapter assist in beautifying the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, a National Natural Landmark, by making ecological improvements. Specifically, in the fall of 2009, members created an assembly line to move 3,500 pounds of dirt up a hill to fill an erosion gully. That same day, volunteers removed two plants– Russian Thistle and Great Mullein – not indigenous to the park, then picked seeds from indigenous plants to safely store so that they can be used in other portions of the park. Members provided a great service to assist with preservation of this one-of-a-kind park and also learned valuable information about the unique ecology of their region and a nationally renowned landmark. On occasions like this, service-learning is so well integrated that those performing service don’t even realize they are taking part in a revolutionary effort. Volunteers develop a deep understanding of the issues at hand, such as environmental stressors, practice working as a team and improving communication skills. Often, a meaningful service experience can cause a participant to reflect on personal and career interests in science, the environment, public policy or other related areas. In these ways, service-learning intentionally combines service with learning, transforming students and communities. Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 5 Features The School of Leadership Studies at Kansas State University was funded in part by the XIX chapter and Mortar Board alumni. Mortar Board supports alma maters By Alicia Notestone The idea of Mortar Board members and chapters supporting universities through fundraising and making generous contributions certainly isn’t new, although perhaps it has evolved during Mortar Board’s 92-year history. As time goes on, different needs present themselves on campus, and Mortar Board is always there to respond. Whether it is staying true to the Society’s roots as a women’s organization by creating housing for female students, commemorating the service of alumni, or simply filling the gap between the university’s needs and funding, the devotion of Mortar Board to its alma maters is indisputable. A tradition of generosity For decades, collegiate and alumni chapters have tirelessly raised funds in order to provide scholarships to members and non-members, and have donated artwork, rooms, buildings and materials to their universities. This history of giving dates as far back as the Society’s founding, with chapters incorporating benevolence into Mortar Board’s ideals of scholarship, leadership and service. In the 1920s, Mortar Board at the University of Wisconsin – Madison (at the time the only “University of Wisconsin” and a precursor to the 13-campus system) was concerned with housing for women and established the first cooperative house for university women, known as MB Cottage. Similarly, the University of Texas Mortar Board members were concerned about the safety of women walking unlit paths on the Austin campus while returning from the library at night. The chapter spearheaded a $14,000 campus campaign that resulted in lighted walkways and a great sense of security on campus in 1926. In the 1940s, Bucknell University’s chapter sponsored a campus co-recreation center 6 Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 Dr. John A. Wott, left, Purdue University associate professor of horticulture, goes over plans for the addition of an aquatic plant area at Purdue’s Horticulture Park with David Hensley, park supervisor; and Mortar Board Chapter President Debbie Riddle in 1977. Mortar Board donated $6,000 for the addition. Photo courtesy of Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections. at the request of the university president. These are just a few examples of what 228 chapters have given to their campuses. Dedicated groups of alumni have formed foundations and councils to raise funds to contribute to the collegiate chapter and the university. For example, the Mortar Board Alumni/Tolo Foundation, originally founded in 1925 to support the Tolo chapter at the University of Washington, has expanded its purpose to support the nearby Otlah chapter at the University of Puget Sound and Ivy Honorary chapter at Seattle Pacific University. Nearly every existing Mortar Board alumni chapter provides scholarships or fellowships, exceeding a combined $200,000 annually. Features Significant impact Many chapters have made a tradition of university support, taking on the challenging and rewarding role of organizing major development projects. The Barbara Cook chapter at Purdue University has a long history of promoting campuswide programs and events, especially leadership, such as the chapter’s popular annual Mortar Board Leadership Conference. Another hallmark of the chapter’s support for its alma mater over the years is the way that it has helped to change the face of campus with contributions of all sizes, which aren’t always glamorous. For instance, Mortar Board alumna Julie Hampl Davis (center) is pictured at the Kansas State University School of Leadership in the 1980s the chapter helped to beautify campus Studies dedication on April 16, 2010, with longtime XIX chapter advisor Candice Hironaka (left), 2010-2011 XIX chapter president Jack Mosimann (second from left) and 2009-2010 XIX chapter president Veronica Baus by providing outdoor trash receptacles in key campus (right) in the Mortar Board office named in Davis’ honor (entrance pictured at left). locations, encouraging students to keep the campus a courtyard outside of the university’s Wexner Center for the Arts – beautiful. By forging a strong relationship with university officials, the a desired but unfunded portion of the new building’s plan. Once chapter was able to become significantly involved in constructing a pond completed in 1989, it commemorated the chapter’s 1914 founding in Horticulture Park in the 1970s. Again with the cooperation and guidance with a 75th anniversary dedication at OSU. Similarly, the Barbara of university planners in the late 1980s, the chapter built a marker at a Cook chapter funded and built a lovely plaza in honor of Purdue Dean major artery entering campus. The marker honored Dean of Students Emerita of Women Helen B. Schleman Barbara Cook (University of Arkansas), (Northwestern University) in the 1990s. and the chapter simultaneously renamed Nestled outside of the Schleman Hall itself in her honor. Most recently, the of Student Services, it currently serves chapter commissioned portraits of as a popular gathering and study place for Purdue’s first three deans of students, all students – just like Mortar Board Court at OSU. women: M. Beverley Stone, Barbara Cook The OSU chapter has taken on numerous other projects – including and Betty M. Nelson (Purdue University). the donation of a piano to the Kuhn Honors and Scholars House and The Ohio State University Alumni Council, founded to support the recent dedication of an original sculpture resembling a mortarboard to Mabel G. Freeman chapter at The Ohio State University, recently raised be housed in the new Ohio Union. As former Mortar Board Executive roughly $300,000 to dedicate the Mortar Board Centennial Suite in the Director and active alumna Diane Selby (The Ohio State University) university’s newly renovated William Oxley Thompson Library. The explains, “There have been tons of committee meetings and individuals three-year project, unveiled in the fall of 2009, serves as a cozy reading working to make all these things happen over the years. There is spot that will affect the lives of countless students for years to come. always one person with a vision that doesn’t let go until the project is Twenty years earlier, the OSU Alumni Council worked with former completed.” Mortar Board National President Ruth Weimer Mount (University of Perhaps the most recent chapter project to culminate is that of Illinois) to raise $150,000 for the dedication of Mortar Board Court, the $11 million School of Leadership Studies building at Kansas State University, which was dedicated on April 16, 2010. More than 100 Mortar Board donors helped to make this project possible, directing funding to the Mortar Board office housed within the two-story environmentallyfriendly facility. The office has been named in honor of alumna Julie Hampl Davis (Kansas State University), who with her husband Roger was the top contributor. During her time in Mortar Board, Julie said she most enjoyed the “memorable and meaningful experience with an elite group of individuals,” and commented that Mortar Board continues to value “consistent views and ethics shared by all members.” Director of the School of Leadership Studies Mary Hale Tolar (Kansas State University) explained that “Mortar Board has always been an active participant and advocate for student leadership on this campus – and now they have a place where their contributions can continue to grow” Members and advisors of the Barbara Cook chapter Class of 1990 surround the Purdue – symbolic of Mortar Board on all campuses. University marker that the chapter had built in honor of Barbara Cook in April 1989. “There is always one person with a vision that doesn’t let go until the project is completed.” Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 7 Our History Mortar Board in the 1940s: a world at war Celebrating our history By Alicia Notestone Many Mortar Board alumnae spent the latter part of the 1930s and early portion of the 1940s traveling the world to exotic locations such as Paris, London and the Congo. One member visiting Berlin in September of 1939 delicately discussed politics and German culture over rationed coffee with an old acquaintance – by then a Hitler Youth Boys leader. While they discussed the possibility of a war (he denied it would occur) and uncomfortably watched as Germans shouted “Heil Hitler” constantly almost as if saying “hello” to one another, nearby German troops marched into Poland – an invasion that is often cited as the official start of World War II. Back home in the U.S., 1940 rang in ordinarily enough for nearly 800 collegiate Mortar Board members at 72 chapters across the nation. The United States didn’t want to be involved in the war and had remained neutral. Chapters diligently continued to work toward a place for women in student government and athletics, merrily held social events (often dances), and mentored freshman and transfer women as they entered the university. Tapping ceremonies continued to be one of the most notable traditions of Mortar Board, along with chapters finding new and creative ways to exemplify the ideals of scholarship, leadership and service. Soon, Congress passed the nation’s first-ever peacetime draft legislation by way of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, gradually growing our forces and requiring that men ages 21 to 35 register with local draft boards. The 1941 National Convention (now known as a national conference) marked a landmark decision for Mortar Board, one that had long been a dream of many members and alumnae. Named for Mortar Board President Katherine Wills Coleman, the voting delegates of Mortar Board introduced a national Mortar Board Fellowship of $500 to help women study at the graduate level. Another important decision made at that convention was to establish a committee on national defense to communicate with members regularly with tangible information on the war and the role of members – one of the first student organizations with such a program. Suddenly, on December 7, 1941, everything changed. Japanese aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor, killing 2,402 Americans and wounding another 1,282. Civilians were shocked and terrified, and the U.S. immediately entered the war. Congress extended the draft, widening the range of draftees to men aged 18 to 45 and nationalizing the draft lottery. If selected, a man would serve 12 months. Many others volunteered, increasing the size of the military by 10 million between 1940 and 1947. With men leaving by the thousands, a bit of a “silver lining” existed for the women – an opportunity for women to finally prove themselves, both in education and in the workplace. When professors went to war, women stepped in, teaching college courses. When baseball players went to war, women played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League founded by Phillip K. Wrigley. Like “Rosie the Riveter,” women stepped up to help their country while at war, working in ammunition factories and bursting into industries such as aviation. Roughly 350,000 women (including countless Mortar Board members) joined the armed forces, with the creation of women’s service units in the Army, Navy, Members in service Countless Mortar Board members, including those pictured below, served in and supported the military during and following World War II. Helen Maddock, a member from Montana State University, spent two years as a Red Cross program director in India. 8 Mary E. Dixon of Cornell University (right) is pictured with Queen Elizabeth II of England while serving as the Women’s Army Corps ( WAC) staff director. Mary served in Germany, the U.K. and France, and received a Bronze Star. Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 Margaret B. West, initiated at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, was recognized for her distinguished service as an Army guidance officer. Betty Ann Taylor, initiated at Florida State College for Women, served in the Navy WAVES ( Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) Our History Coast Guard, Marines and Air Force making it possible for them to serve their country. Honorary member Dorothy C. Stratton organized the Coast Guard’s women’s reserve, developed its name (SPARS - a contraction of the Coast Guard motto Semper Paratus and its English translation Always Ready) and served as its first director. Mortar Board chapters in particular sprang to action. As a whole, the chapters taught extracurricular classes with topics such as nursing and knitting, helping more university women to volunteer for the Red Cross and knit bandages for wounded soldiers. Some chapters helped to establish recreation centers for servicemen, while others organized social events at military bases and provided reading materials to the troops. Chapters hosted insightful wartime roundtable discussions for women, while individual members volunteered in every needed position, from nurse to airplane spotter. Chapters sold defense stamps, worked at blood drives, knitted sweaters for soldiers and sewed blackout curtains for cities to use to prevent nighttime air raids. The Mortar Board Quarterly provided tips for members on conserving food, textiles, metals and energy – all of which were rationed during the war. It promoted the purchase of defense bonds, listed numerous ways members could volunteer their services (broken down by educational field of study) and featured articles from qualified correspondents on the war. During World War II, many popular traditions took a hit. The 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled, with similar fates falling to other events – including the 1943 Mortar Board Convention. In the late 1930s, women had worn fashion-forward, feminine clothing. Synthetic nylon stockings were new and incredibly popular, and accessories such as gloves and hats were worn for nearly every occasion. As the nation delved deeper into the war, nylons were forbidden – the material was needed for parachutes. All textiles were rationed, so women often mended older clothing or modified unused men’s suits – since most men were in uniform – as the apparel of the time. One thing that continued was the stylish shoulder-length pin curl hairstyle, seen on nearly every Mortar Board member of the time. Higher education saw change with the war as well. Universities expanded their coursework to include wartime classes on canteen cookery, news analysis, ambulance driving, aviation, Pan-American relations, first aid, explosives, typing, deciphering of messages and aerial mapping, among others. With men away, there were more spots open for women to learn and to enter graduate school. By the time the war ended in 1945, the G.I. Bill of Rights had been passed, providing one year of unemployment compensation, a variety of loans, and most importantly to universities – up to four years of tuition, books and fees paid for veterans by Uncle Sam. Many institutions saw a record surge in applications following the war. Colorado State University switched from semesters to quarters to accommodate the sudden influx of students. Some women’s colleges even started to accept men, and others, such as Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University) officially transitioned to a coeducational status. Following Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945, and the peace it brought, Mortar Board National President Coral Vanstrum Stevens University of Idaho Mortar Board chapter members are pictured in casual Mortar Board sweater “uniforms” in 1940. wrote to members, “During the last four years practically every chapter has participated in some form of war work … . Now that the heaviest responsibility and need for that type of service has passed and you should be asking – what next?” She went on to offer the advice of evaluating pre-war programs and keeping those that were valuable, and those that were deemed unnecessary. She also encouraged chapters to look to pertinent, timely topics, such as working with the United Nations – and they did. In 1946, both Purdue University and the University of New Hampshire immediately started work by heading United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) local clothing drives. Peacetime also meant that Mortar Board was able to end its policy of minimal expansion during wartime and regenerate growth, ending the decade with 83 chartered chapters. With textiles more readily available, Mortar Board “uniforms” returned to the height of their popularity, with women across the nation sporting blazers, sweaters and scarves emblazoned with the Mortar Board logo to show their pride. Finally, the decade ended on a positive note, with representatives at the 1949 Mortar Board National Convention honoring retiring National President Stevens, who had so skillfully directed the affairs of Mortar Board during the war years, as namesake of the chapter gift membership which is still used for members who might otherwise be financially unable to accept membership. To honor the 92nd anniversary and look forward to the centennial celebration, Mortar Board has launched a historical series to be highlighted in each edition of the Mortar Board Forum. Look for the next edition of the Mortar Board Forum to see the growth of the Society throughout the 1950s. You are a part of Mortar Board’s history The Historical Publication Committee is compiling a Mortar Board history book. Please send any Mortar Board history, from personal memoirs to photos, to Committee Chair Martha Tykodi at: 4932 York Road SW, Pataskala, OH 43062 history@mortarboard.org Learn more at www.mortarboard.org/history Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 9 Member News Mortar Board member’s generosity featured on NBC This article has been adapted from “Hospitality turns tragedy to opportunity for retired OSU staffer” by Martha Filipic, writer with The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, U.S. airspace was quickly closed and thousands of passengers on 239 U.S.-bound flights that day were diverted to, and welcomed by, Canada. Mortar Board member Shirley Brooks-Jones (initiated at The Ohio State University in 1991 while obtaining her baccalaureate degree in English following her retirement) was among the 6,600 passengers who landed at the crowded Gander International Airport in Newfoundland. While passengers sat on the runway for 24 hours, not knowing whether they would make it home or what was going on in the U.S., kindhearted volunteers of all ages in the small nearby town of Lewisporte sprang to action. Community leaders Mortar Board member Shirley Brooks-Jones testing her prowess at the wheel of a ferry, with Lewisporte friends Thelma and Bill Hooper (the former mayor of Lewisporte). and residents, knowing passengers would need food, shelter and comfort, gathered supplies to college expenses and ended with the idea of developing an endowed prepare for extraordinary circumstances. scholarship fund. Once Shirley and her fellow passengers on Delta Flight 15 were With the blessing (and first pledge) from the pilot, Shirley made an permitted to deplane with only their carry-on luggage, they joined announcement about the scholarship fund over the plane’s intercom passengers from three other flights and boarded school buses to system. Hastily-made pledge forms torn from a notebook swiftly made Lewisporte, a tiny town of just 4,000 residents about 30 minutes from their way across the plane, and more than $15,000 was instantly Gander Airport. pledged. “About 100 of us were assigned to the Lewisporte Lion’s Club Center Upon her return to Columbus, Ohio, Shirley set up the endowment — others went to churches, schools, other service clubs, and a few — with the Columbus Foundation. Today, the Lewisporte Area Flight 15 I remember one woman who was eight and a half months pregnant, Scholarship Fund has grown to nearly $1 million and 111 scholarships stayed in people’s homes,” Shirley said. “But no matter where we were, have been awarded. we had everything we needed. People brought towels and blankets Because of her efforts, Shirley was inducted into the Order of from their homes, they brought homemade food, we slept on cots or Newfoundland and Labrador, the highest honor in the province, in mats from the local school’s gym, and boxes and boxes of deodorant, 2007. In November 2009, the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador shampoo, razors -- anything we needed, they provided. At night, the asked her to make a quick visit back to meet with some special guests — ladies of the town would pick up used towels, take them home to wash Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker Bowles. them, and bring them back fresh the next day. It was incredible.” And now, the story that Shirley refers to as “the most extraordinary, The unexpected visit lasted three days, during which Shirley fell in the most beautiful experience I’ve ever had in my life” has been told love with the people of Lewisporte, an area especially affected by a poor to an international audience. NBC aired the story of this experience economy. Neither the townspeople nor local businesses expected, nor during its broadcast of the 21st Winter Olympic Games. The NBC crew accepted, anything for their goodwill and generosity. “They just said, did some filming with Shirley in Columbus this fall, and in September ‘You would do the same for us.’” she spent 10 days with NBC in Newfoundland, being interviewed by On the flight back to the U.S., Shirley and other passengers started former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw and helping identify key players chatting about a way they could repay the community of Lewisporte for in the story. their generosity. The discussion began with helping one student with 10 Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 Member News Mortar Board members receive renowned scholarships Mortar Board member updates Kira C. Allmann, initiated at the College of William and Mary in 2009, has been named a 2010 Rhodes Scholar. The Rhodes Scholarships, one of the oldest international fellowships, bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford. Barbara (Gibbs) Doster, initiated in 1955 at The Ohio State University, was recently honored at the Purdue University Krannert School of Management Recognition Banquet. Following Barbara’s retirement as director of management programs for the school, a Barbara G. Doster Leadership Forum was introduced in 1999 as a way for students to focus on leadership development. At the banquet, Barbara had the pleasure of presenting 14 Barbara G. Doster Positive Attitude scholarships to management students. The night concluded with the unveiling of a portrait of Barbara, painted in secret by her artist daughter Susan at the request of university personnel. The portrait will hang in the new Barbara G. Doster Undergraduate Conference Room in the Krannert School of Management. Three Mortar Board members have been named recipients of the 2010 Marshall Scholarships. John Calhoun, a 2008 initiate from the University of Richmond; Matthew Clawson, a 2009 initiate from the University of California, Los Angeles; and Reynaldo Fuentes, a 2009 initiate from the University of Wyoming, will have the opportunity to study at the graduate level in the U.K. in any field of study. Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. As future leaders, with a lasting understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions. Katherine Whitehurst Glenn, initiated at Birmingham-Southern College in 2010, has been awarded a Truman Scholarship. The Truman Scholarship Foundation finds and recognizes college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in public service and provides them with financial support for graduate study, leadership training and fellowship with other students who are committed to making a difference through public service. Twelve Mortar Board members are recipients of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, presented to sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering. The Mortar Board members honored include Kristen Marie Altenburger (Ohio University, initiated in 2010), Rachel Marie Barkley (Drake University, 2010), Stephanie Cheung (Grinnell College, 2010), Daniel Paul Cook (University of Missouri-Columbia, 2010), Caitlin Crimp (Oregon State University, 2009), Loribeth Evertz (Montana State University, 2010), Anna Kathryn Hailey (University of Mississippi, 2009), Kaila Marie Mattson (University of South Alabama, 2009), Lydia Rebecca Meador (Oklahoma State University, 2010), Caitlin Powell (Case Western Reserve University, 2009), Ellen Marie Tworkoski (Carnegie Mellon University, 2010) and Zachary Robert Winkler (University of Tulsa, 2010). Swati Varshney, initiated at Carnegie Mellon University in 2009, is a recipient of the Winston Churchill Foundation fellowship. Established in 1959, the Winston Churchill Foundation was founded by American friends of Churchill who wanted to fulfill his wish of always having young American graduate students at Churchill College at the University of Cambridge. The Foundation’s scholarship program offers American citizens of exceptional ability and outstanding achievement the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in engineering, mathematics, or the sciences at Cambridge. Mortar Board National Foundation Trustee Bonnie (Neuwald) Kennedy (initiated at the University of Oklahoma in 1977) joined the board of trustees of the University of Oklahoma Foundation in January. Bonnie, the Chief Financial Officer and managing director of Trident Capital, will serve on the University of Oklahoma Foundation’s investment and audit and finance committees. Dr. Wendy B. (Trozzi) Libby, initiated in 1971 at Cornell University, was inaugurated as president of Stetson University during the university’s homecoming weekend, March 18 to 21. Dr. Libby became the ninth president of Stetson University, an independent university with four campuses located in Central Florida, in July 2009. Previously, she served as president of Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., the nation’s secondoldest women’s institution, from 2003 to 2009. Mortar Board sent greetings to mark her inauguration. David Needs, current advisor for the Panathenees chapter at CarsonNewman College and a 1990 Mortar Board initiate of the chapter, has been named Division II Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Needs, the quarterbacks coach, recently completed his 14th season at Carson-Newman, and 17th season overall. He also played quarterback at Carson-Newman and was a part of the 1988 and ’89 national championships. He has been a part of 10 South Atlantic Conference titles and three national championship games while on the football coaching staff. SEND MORTAR BOARD YOUR UPDATES Update Mortar Board with your achievements, contact information and life events by e-mailing mbforum@mortarboard.org or by visiting www.mortarboard.org/alumni! While you’re there, don’t forget to support Mortar Board with an Alumni Sustaining Membership for just $25 annually. Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 11 2009 ANNUAL REPORT ‘Tis the torch that the people follow… This phrase from the concluding sentence of Mortar Board’s thoughtprovoking poem that is read aloud at initiation and other special times in Mortar Board chapters’ experiences seems appropriate as the lead-in to the annual report for the fiscal year 2008-2009. While I have the honor of being among the torchbearers now, my appointment to the post of executive director became effective only after the end of this reporting year. To the dedicated national leaders who upheld “the shining load” of the Society during this past year belongs all credit for the year’s outcomes. The new members of the Society numbered 5,798 (a 1.4 percent decrease over last reporting year) in 193 active chapters (a 2.5 percent decrease in chapter numbers compared to the last reporting year). All of Mortar Board’s national leaders continue to monitor chapter strength and member numbers. The Society’s 227th charter was issued on April 23, 2009, at the University of Minnesota Duluth. The chapter has taken the name Tau Delta. There were 72 honorary members selected who have distinguished themselves as scholars, public servants and leaders in the higher education community at 40 campuses. There are 347 alumni sustaining members. There were 291 delegates, national leaders, honorees, speakers and staff who attended the Mortar Board National Conference, held July 2426 in a city new to recent Mortar Board meetings — Chicago. The site was reviewed favorably by official delegates and other participants, and the Society plans to return to Chicago for its National Conference through 2012. Supporting the Society’s financial well-being The initiation fee, increased by $15 at the National Conference in July has at last reached a par with peer associations. It is stunning how long (six years) Mortar Board, at its peril, managed to go without raising its fee. This decision by the official delegates voting as the National Conference governing body was a true example of how governance works to steward an organization’s health and provide services to its members. I applaud the determination of the delegates who recognized the importance of this initiation fee increase to Mortar Board’s future. National Leadership of Mortar Board, Inc. Also at the National Conference, Mortar Board again experienced the orderly transition of officers with the retirement from the National Council of President Sally Steadman (University of Wyoming) and Student Representative Katie Schirmer (Drury University). Daniel J. Turner (Northern Illinois University) was installed as president. Susan Herndon Caples (University of Alabama) was elected president-elect; she will be the first honorary member to serve as president of our Society. Abigail Diehl (The Pennsylvania State University) was re-elected vice president, and 12 Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 THE TORCH The God of Great Endeavor gave me a torch to bear. I lifted it high above me in the dark and murky air, And straightway, with loud hosannas, the crowd proclaimed its light And followed me as I carried my torch through the starless night. Till drunk with the people’s praises, and mad with vanity, I forgot ’twas the torch that they followed, And fancied they followed me. Then slowly my arm grew weary upholding the shining load, And my tired feet went stumbling over the dusty road, And I fell—with the torch beneath me. In a moment the light was out, When lo from the throng a stripling sprang forth with a mighty shout, Caught up the torch as it smoldered, and lifted it high again, Till, fanned by the winds of heaven, it fired the souls of men. As I lay in the darkness, the feet of the trampling crowd Passed over and far beyond me, its paeans proclaiming aloud, And I learned in the deepening twilight, the glorious verity, ’Tis the torch that the people follow, Whoever the bearer may be. - Elizabeth Furry, 1925 (Florida State University) Angela Schrader (University of Wyoming) was elected secretary-treasurer in her first term on the National Council. Bridget Williams Golden (Purdue University) was re-elected to the position of alumni representative, joining midterm incumbent Jane Beyer (University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee). Lindsey DePra (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) [see box on page 14] was elected as student representative to join midterm incumbent Joseph Rodriguez (University of Arizona). Awards for Mortar Board members from Mortar Board At the National Conference, Alumni Achievement Awards were presented to Shontrai DeVaughn Irving (Indiana University) and Jo Ann Rohyans (Miami University). Distinguished Lifetime Membership Awards were presented to Sheila Castellarin (The Ohio State University) and John Mount (The Ohio State University). Excellence in Advising Awards went to Sally Cobb (University of South Alabama), retiring as advisor from the University of South Alabama’s chapter; Jane K. Smith ( West Virginia University), who advises the chapter at San Diego State University; and David Whitman (University of Wyoming), advisor at the University of Wyoming. The Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award was presented to the University of Washington Tolo chapter in Seattle, Wash. The Most Improved Chapter Award was bestowed upon Cornell College’s Torch chapter in Mount Vernon, Iowa. See the Fall 2009 Mortar Board Forum ( Vol. 40, Issue 1) for photos and a more extensive recap of the awards program as well as a complete listing of award winners. National Leadership of the Mortar Board National Foundation The Mortar Board National Foundation awarded $39,500 in fellowships to 12 members. These fellowships are possible because of the generosity of funders who have endowed named scholarships and because of the careful stewardship of the trustees of the Mortar Board National Foundation, which is a tax-exempt, charitable organization operated under section 501(c)(3) United States Internal Revenue Code. In a year when the National Foundation’s investments were buffeted by market declines, the foundation should take great pride in being able to award handsome fellowships to Mortar Board members for advanced study. The selection process is always difficult, making the choice of only 12 recipients demanding. There were 120 applicants. In the box at right you will see the fellowship and its recipient and initiating chapter. The National Foundation trustees were led over this reporting year by retiring National Foundation Chair Bob Sorensen (Purdue University), Cathy Randall (University of Alabama) and Anne Foltz (The Ohio State University), whose terms expired. At the 2009 Mortar Board National Conference, Sally Steadman accepted the role of chair for one year. Trustees are Martha J. Starling (Kansas State University), Bonnie Kennedy (The University of Oklahoma), Kent Hattery (Eastern Kentucky University) and Denise Rode (Northern Illinois University). Joining these incumbents as new trustees were Mabel G. Freeman (The Ohio State University) and Jane K. Smith ( West Virginia University). National Council leaders Dan Turner and Angie Schrader serve ex officio on the Mortar Board National Foundation. The National Foundation also supports chapters in their efforts to serve their alma mater and create a “buzz” about Mortar Board and leadership on campus. A total of $10,000 was presented during the reporting year to chapters at 44 campuses, the names of which may be found in a side bar to this report on page 14. Awards for Mortar Board, Inc. In April 2009, Mortar Board received two Awards of Excellence from the Central Ohio Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for the Mortar Board Forum magazine and the Mortar Board Official Membership Booklet. Applause to Alicia Notestone (The Ohio State University)! Staff change During the year the National Council conducted a search, chaired by Alumni Representative Jane Beyer, for a person qualified to assume the position of executive director. The search was completed and I began my work with the Society on November 16, 2009. Megan Stevens (The Ohio State University), assistant executive director for chapter development, served as interim executive director capably and loyally. Staff members Alicia Notestone and Mary Cay Kuder joined Megan in advancing the light of the Society over eight months of the National Office’s “short staffing.” … There are countless examples of members throughout Mortar Board who have held high the torch of leadership throughout the reporting year. Section coordinators have shed light on chapter operations selflessly and creatively; committee chairs illuminate their specialty areas. Collegiate chapter presidents walk in the spotlight as “leaders of leaders.” Collegiate chapter advisors often find the lights in their offices or homes burning much later than usual thanks to late night Mortar Board meetings. Alumni chapter and club officers prove that the fire of Mortar Board leadership glows brightly well beyond college. Readers of fellowship applications, members who reviewed chapter project grants, donors to the Mortar Board National Foundation, volunteers who helped the National Office—the list of torchbearers is long. For these many enlightened leaders of our Society who guided Mortar Board with vigor and downright love this past year, I am grateful. Mortar Board is truly radiant because of their service. Yours in carrying the torch Jane A. Hamblin, J.D., CAE Executive Director Mortar Board National Foundation fellows Mortar Board Diane Selby Fellowship Stan Wang, The University of Akron GEICO Fellowship Victoria Luhrs, Kansas State University Mortar Board Fellowship Noah Pittman, Rhodes College Mortar Board Fellowship Ashley Evearitt, The University of Findlay Ellen North Dunlap Fellowship Sarah Murphy, Case Western Reserve University Ruth Weimer Mount Fellowship Jared Wilkinson, Purdue University Zelma Patchin Fellowship Steven Hoffenson, University of Maryland Mortar Board Fellowship Sonia Savani, University of South Alabama Barbara Cook Fellowship Darla Barie, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Mary Elizabeth Ramier Fellowship Ambrosia Ortiz y Prentice, The University of New Mexico Washington State University Classes of 1945-1950 Fellowship Abraham Flores, Jr., University of Hawai’i - Manoa Katherine Wills Coleman Fellowship Jaclyn Wray, University of Nebraska - Lincoln See the Fall 2009 editon of the Mortar Board Forum ( Vol. 40, Issue 1) for photos and more extensive descriptions of these Mortar Board fellows. Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 13 ANNUAL FINANCIAL POSITION November 1, 2008, through October 31, 2009 Revenue Mortar Board, Inc. Membership fees and dues Conference fees Grants Merchandise sales 1 Investment income Miscellaneous Total revenue Expenses Program services Management and general Total expenses 2 Net assets Unrestricted $351,284 $52,424 $30,000 $51,713 $23,914 $2,616 $511,951 $444,689 $126,388 $571,077 $403,220 Mortar Board National Foundation Fund Revenue Fees Contributions and grants Other 1 Total revenue Expenses Program services Management and general Fundraising Total expenses Net assets Unrestricted Temporarily restricted Restricted Total assets $17,130 $87,934 ----$105,064 $88,899 $20,138 $22,531 $131,568 $(2,009) $164,609 $614,360 $776,960 1 The trustees of the Mortar Board National Foundation Fund and the members of the Mortar Board National Council agreed that beginning in this fiscal year, merchandise expenses and revenue would come to Mortar Board, Inc. Previously this line had been in the Mortar Board National Foundation Fund. Increased efforts in fundraising and improved budget management have been implemented for National Foundation operations going forward. 2 A donation was made by Mortar Board, Inc. to the General Fellowship Fund of the Mortar Board National Foundation in the amount of $50,000 during 2009. The use of these funds has been left to the discretion of the trustees of the Mortar Board National Foundation. 14 Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 NATIONAL COUNCIL UPDATE With regret, National Council President Dan Turner accepted the resignation of Student Representative Lindsey DePra (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) in April. The National Council, following Mortar Board’s Bylaws, appointed Jessica Heath (Kansas State University) to fill Lindsey’s unexpired term. Jessica has been very active at K-State in the Academic Decathlon, which was run by the XIX Mortar Board chapter as well as Student Foundation, Kappa Kappa Gamma and the Christian Challenge Campus Ministry. She is currently working on her master’s degree in college student personnel at K-State and has remained active with the collegiate chapter. Mortar Board extends thanks to Lindsey for her service to the Society, while at the same time welcoming Jessica to the national leadership team. 2008-2009 Mortar Board National Foundation Chapter Project Grant recipients May 2009 recipients October 2008 recipients Hood College University of Missouri - Columbia Rhodes College University of South Alabama University of South Florida University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee The University of Akron Albion College Bowling Green State University Carson-Newman College Case Western Reserve University University of Cincinnati The Colorado College Cornell College Hood College Hope College University of Illinois University of Iowa James Madison University The University of Kansas Kansas State University University of Maryland Northern Arizona University Northwestern University Seattle Pacific University The University of Texas at El Paso Valparaiso University The University of Vermont Washington University Western New England College Wichita State University William Jewell College Xavier University December 2008 recipients University of Arizona University of California, Los Angeles Central Michigan University University of Cincinnati The Colorado College Colorado State University Hope College University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Mississippi University for Women Northwestern University The Ohio State University Oklahoma Baptist University Rhodes College University of South Florida The University of Texas at El Paso University of Utah The University of Vermont College of William and Mary University of Wyoming Thank you, donors! These members and friends have generously supported the Mortar Board National Foundation from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009. Agnes Scott College Frances Donohue Holly Henderson Mary Rae Phelps Elizabeth Witt University of California, Los Angeles Michelle Benham Bonnie Nidever Margaret Rosato The University of Alabama Susan Caples Lane Nestman Dorothy Rigby University of California, Santa Barbara Rachel Gibson The American University Patricia Cerny University of Arizona Joan Ashcraft Ethel Lyons Joseph Rodriguez Gregory Ziebell Auburn University Elizabeth Sturkie Williams Beloit College Gary Cox Birmingham-Southern College Maude Diseker Collier Marion Phillips Bowling Green State University Sue Hoelscher Helen O’Meara Bradley University Kristin Smith University at Buffalo Analine Hicks Susanne Wood University of California, Berkeley Paul Reisz KEY * $500 - $999 ˚ $1,000 - $4,999 ~ $5,000 or more Carson-Newman College Adam Dickson Doris Walters William Winstead Betty Lathrop Andrea Richardson Marion Shahan Kansas State University Martha Starling * Janice Wissman DePauw University Molly Doughen Marian Porter Joyce Vietzke Allen Kent State University Rae Mandel Drake University Roland Bechtol Eastern Kentucky University Kent Hattery Mary Jane Reilly Case Western Reserve University Robert T. Honious Susan Runkle Fort Hays State University Teresa James University of Cincinnati Pamela Reuling George Washington University Bonnie Franklin Coe College Kim Waterbury Grinnell College Eleanore Tyson University of Colorado Marlene Stanford Grove City College Donna Atwood University of Connecticut David Crouse Margaret Murray Hinkle Hope College Norma Greenfield Nancy Swinyard Converse College Mary Alice Ingram Busch Idaho State University Anne L. Christie Cornell University Arlie Anderson Mary Jo Coe Sandra Fromm Susan Phipps-Yonas Isabelle Richmond University of Idaho Clarice Rainey Susan Stauffer Denison University Ruth Decker Christopher Swanson Indiana State University William Niederer The University of Denver Susan Deane Anna Mae Duffy Pamela Huggins University of Illinois Carole Boersma The University of Iowa Helen Dahlberg Sue Donelson Davidson Mary Ladd Loots Ann Teske University of Kentucky Helen McBride Knox College Barbara Adams Mary Alice Yund Lakeland College Heather Treptow Lawrence University Margaret Humleker Betty Messenger Lyon College Mary-Margaret Nester University of Maryland Jane (Betty) De Grafft Miami University Nancy Evans Nancy Mc Auliffe The University of Miami Stephanie Watkins Michigan State University Nelda Stuck Virginia Withers University of Michigan Brad Dashoff University of Mississippi Janet Farrington University of Missouri - Columbia Linda Headrick Setzer Montana State University Jackie Mathews Carolyn Ryffel Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 15 University of Montana Joan Gillespie Hazel Sullivan The University of Nebraska Lincoln Janet Beckmann Judith Clark Joan Kopf Sue Ann Tempero The University of New Mexico Chris Ortiz y Prentice University of North Texas Alta Birdsong Charldean Newell Northern Arizona University Laura Hauer Northern Illinois University Faith Clark John H Kemnitz Patricia E. MacWhorter Denise Rode * Daniel Turner Frank Hale Jr. Charles Hermann Mary Helen Hopkins Dolores Jonas David Keene Valerie Kuhnheim Marjorie Lasko Mary Melick Meyers Marilu Moye * Alicia Notestone Mary O’Shaughnessey Barbara Payson Gloria Resnick Beverly Rhodenbaugh Marjorie Sayers Diane Selby * Megan Stevens Idelle Wolf Aldred Hellmich Kristena Lamar Patricia Mintz Bob and Linda Sorensen ˚ Barbara Watts Karen Wilson Ohio University Betsy Burke Marilyn Paulsen The University of South Dakota Margaret Cash Wegner Ohio Wesleyan University Sarah Timmons Marilyn Wearda Northwestern University Barbara Marsh Mary Lee Meyer The University of Oklahoma Patricia Bynum Riggs Doris Howard Robert Jarman Bonnie Kennedy ˚ Occidental College Evelyne Glaser Phyllis Lawrence Edith Marshall Oregon State University June Bashkin Ohio Northern University Walter Schilling, Jr. The Ohio State University Kaye Bache-Snyder Elaine Barnum L. Ann Bish Shirley Bowser Shirley Brooks-Jones Melissa Canowitz Sheila Castellarin Gail Harrison Corvette ˚ Ilsedore Edse Mary Lou Fairall Anne Foltz Mabel G. Freeman Virginia Gordon 16 The Pennsylvania State University Barbara Arnold Janet Blew Carol Carberry Kalos Kathryn Cochrane Marian Coppersmith Abigail Diehl David Schuler University of Redlands Adrianna Vermilion University of Richmond Elizabeth Cheyney Betty Ann Dillon Jean Proffitt University of South Carolina Donna E. Rice Hughes Harry Turner, Jr. Tennessee Technological University Gilbert Fernandez University of Tennessee at Knoxville Cheryl Gunter Texas Tech University Joan Duke Carolyn Norgaard Brenda Peters Dottie Phillips The University of Texas at Austin Susan Beisert The University of Toledo Virginia Black Barbara Holdcroft Dennis Klaustermeyer Ruth Miller Clinton Rataczak The University of Vermont Catherine Pollard Lola Smith Washington State University Genevieve DeVleming Susan Hinz Margit Jackson Mary Jane Larimer Betty Jo Sorensen Eleanor Tesluk Washington University in St. Louis Yvette Dubinsky Joan Sessel Marilyn Stewart University of Washington June Anderson Merrill Biesada Betty Holman Corker Janet Huff Bror Saxberg Carolyn Smith Lucy Werner Wayne State University Judy Mongelluzzo Avis White West Virginia University Clara Privett Jane K. Smith ˚ Whitman College Linda Nelson Wichita State University Thelma Ball College of William and Mary Barbara Borst Elaine Diehm Guilfoyle Cynthia Frye Howes Pomona College Huey Merchant Utah State University Julie A. Robinson University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Paula Stuettgen Purdue University Barbara Brenner Marilyn Giolas Phyllis Gladden Bridget Williams Golden Jane Hamblin ˚ University of Utah Yraina L Kopelman University of Wisconsin - Madison Nancy Bernstein Schultz Jean Harlan Caroline Laubenheimer Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 Vanderbilt University Carrie Mees University of Wyoming Charlotte Davis Angela Schrader Sally Steadman ˚ Mortar Board chapters Chapman University, Schweitzer chapter Greater Columbus Mortar Board Alumni Chapter Purdue University, Barbara Cook chapter ˚ Wichita State University, Fairmount chapter Nonmembers Answer Financial, Inc. Bank of America ~ Rita Barnum Blossom Express Inc. ˚ Blue Brush Media Inc. James Evans GEICO ~ JobTarget Kellogg Foundation * Mary Cay Kuder Mortar Board, Inc. ~ Darrell Mottley Seymour Group United HealthCare Student Resources * In honor of Catherine Evans James Evans In honor of Kirsten Freeman Fox Mabel G. Freeman In honor of Mabel G. Freeman Denise Rode In honor of Martha Graham Alta Birdsong In honor of Jane Hamblin William Niederer In honor of Jay and Rob Herndon Susan Caples In honor of Dr. Henry L. Janssen Jane K. Smith In honor of Dr. Herschel Mann Brenda Peters In honor of Jeannie Nguyen June Anderson In memory of Robert C. Hinkle, DDS Margaret Murray Hinkle In honor of Daniel Turner Lane Nestman William Niederer Dottie Phillips In memory of Dr. William J. Holloway Frank Hale Jr. In honor of Grinnell College graduates Eleanore Tyson In honor of Idaho State University chapter leaders Anne L. Christie In honor of the Purdue University chapter Bridget Williams Golden In honor of the University of Washington chapter June Anderson Betty Holman Corker In honor of the Washington State University chapter Eleanor Tesluk In honor of William Niederer Denise Rode In honor of Dottie Phillips Denise Rode In honor of the UCLA Class of 1954 Bonnie Nidever In honor of Denise Rode Barbara Arnold In honor of the UCLA Class of 1986 Michelle Benham In honor of Dolores Rogers William Niederer In memory of Jean Adams Clarice Rainey In honor of Cathy Randall Denise Rode In memory of Dr. Joseph M. Cash Margaret Cash Wegner In honor of Diane Selby Helen McBride Dottie Phillips Denise Rode Susan Stauffer In memory of Alice Graber Decker Thelma Ball In honor of Barbara Cook Aldred Hellmich Patricia Mintz Barbara Watts In honor of Sally Steadman Charlotte Davis Denise Rode In memory of Mary Lou Enberg Genevieve DeVleming Mary Jane Larimer In honor of Genevieve DeVleming Susan Hinz In honor of Megan Stevens Daniel Turner In memory of Vivian Graber Thelma Ball In honor of Barbara Arnold Denise Rode In honor of Nan Barash Marian Coppersmith In honor of Elaine T. Barnum Rita Barnum In honor of Dan Bechtol Roland Bechtol In memory of Betty (Margaret) Patty Lowman Mary Melick Meyers In memory of Elizabeth Marsh Barbara Marsh In memory of Dr. T. B. Mastor Doris Walters In honor of the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire chapter Paula Stuettgen In honor of Ambrosia Ortiz y Prentice Chris Ortiz y Prentice In memory of Eldora Green James June Bashkin In memory of Ellen Kopf Miller Joan Kopf In memory of Ruth Weimer Mount Mary O’Shaughnessey Ilsedore Edse Denise Rode In memory of Peggy Marchant Rutland Patricia Bynum Riggs In memory of Lynne Morgan Rumpf Yraina L. Kopelman In memory of M. Beverley Stone Aldred Hellmich In memory of Josephine Williams Seymour Group In memory of Fred V. Dickson Adam Dickson KEY * $500 - $999 ˚ $1,000 - $4,999 ~ $5,000 or more Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 17 On Campus Carnegie Mellon University During the spring 2010 semester, the 43 members of the Eta chapter volunteered their time in various activities, ranging from the Turkey-fora-Day fundraiser to reading to children. In the Turkey-for-a-Day event, various professors collected donations from students, and the professor with the largest donation collection agreed to wear a turkey costume for a full day. The event was wildly successful, raising nearly $850 from both students and professors. Some of the other numerous service projects included participation in the Fill-A-Bus project, during which members raised $130 to donate to Toys for Tots. Several members also spent time celebrating “Reading is Leading” by volunteering at the Children’s School on campus. Mortar Board members are even more involved now that the chapter has gained momentum in the spring semester. Members spent time reading to students and completed a letter box project, which involved members buying objects and categorizing them based on the first letter of their name. Objects were then placed in their respectively labeled boxes to aid children in learning basic phonics. Several members volunteered at the Pittsburgh Food Bank in honor of Mortar Board Week. In March, Mortar Board participated in 1000Plus, an event devoted to an entire day of serving and helping the community. The chapter conducted a food drive for the area women’s shelter and prepared gardens at the Children’s School. In April, Mortar Board members participated in planning and executing entertaining and educational activities for “Take Your Child to Work Day.” The members and children had an amazing time that day by teaching and performing cheerleading routines and having fun with chemistry. The Mortar Board chapter at Carnegie Mellon has high ambitions for another productive semester, as members are excited to volunteer their time and effort and commit to helping the community around them. Joseph Wang, Chapter Director of Communications Carson-Newman College The Panathenees chapter packed the spring with a number of recruitment, social and service events. The chapter transitioned into a new class by holding a tea party for new members, a member breakfast for both incoming and outgoing Mortar Board members, a memorable initiation ceremony, and successful officer election. To cap off the year, the chapter held a fundraiser at an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball tournament and hosted a “Reading is Leading” education day with the local Boys and Girls Club. Destry Cloud, Chapter Director of Communications Colorado State University The Tau Iota Omega chapter started this year small and uninformed with fewer than 10 incoming members. With the guidance of their “knight in shining armor,” Dr. David Gilkey, the fledgling chapter found motivation and determination and started to blossom along with the assistance of advisors Ms. Jan Rastall and Dr. Brian Jones. After President Kristine “Ryan” Peters attended the 2009 Mortar Board National Conference and the chapter hosted a Challenge Course 18 Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 Carnegie Mellon University Mortar Board members are pictured here volunteering at the Pittsburgh Food Bank in honor of Mortar Board Week. Retreat, the 2009-2010 class was off and running. The chapter increased its membership from fewer than 10 to more than 22 dedicated, professional, strong individuals who make a difference in the CSU and surrounding community every day! The chapter found focus in planning monthly themes with community service activities, outreach and fundraising to include support to Victims of Violence, Homelessness Assistance, Holiday Help for non-traditional students and low-income families, Locks of Love Hair-raising, Trickor-Treating for Books, Garden of the Gods section project, and much more! Admirably, the chapter honored the late Gladys Eddy, founder of Tau Iota Omega chapter of Mortar Board, at the annual Breakfast of the Brass. Kristine “Ryan” Peters, Chapter President Illinois Wesleyan University The EGAS chapter wrapped up its inaugural academic year as a chapter with a popular event, the “Be the President for the Day” contest. This raffle fundraiser gave sophomore Scott Tesler the opportunity to switch roles with Illinois Wesleyan University President Dick Wilson. First, Scott shadowed the university president, attending an educational four-hour board of trustees meeting and executive session. Then, on April 1, President Wilson attended class (Artificial Intelligence) and socialized during lunch in the cafeteria with Scott and his friends. Morgan Tarbutton, Chapter President On Campus James Madison University After receiving a Mortar Board Foundation Chapter Project Grant to fund Dr. Seuss Week during the 2008-2009 academic year, the Percy H. Warren chapter continued the well-received tradition. With the help of local children and the college campus, Mortar Board launched a weeklong celebration of literacy and children’s book author Dr. Seuss’s March 2 birthday. Members, including newly-inducted ones, worked with the JMU’s Reading Road Show’s mobile literacy vehicle, Gus Bus, to visit neighborhoods, child care centers, family child care providers and schools to provide story time, activities and book checkout for children of all ages. Kids kept busy by making Cat in the Hat hats, reading Dr. Seuss books and munching on some healthy snacks with Mortar Board volunteers. The following day, the Mortar Board members picked up right where they left off and did some Dr. Seuss themed arts and crafts at a “kids’ night” at a local Chick-fil-A. Children were thrilled with the surprise appearance of the Cat in the Hat, who led a story time session. The night was such a success that the restaurant asked the chapter back to work with the kids in April. The week proceeded with reading at a local library, followed by JMU’s buffet-style dining hall being taken over by Mortar Board’s Dr. Seuss Week. The entire menu was rhymed, including a “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Catfish” entrée. The chapter helped serve the food while promoting the organization to hundreds of students. After a successful week, the campus and community are looking forward to more Mortar Board sponsored events. Katie Hudson, Chapter Secretary University of Mary Washington The spring semester for the Cap & Gown chapter has been a busy and exciting one, complete with a book drive, a Kitty Love Drive, a Tropical Smoothie/Chick-fil-A fundraiser, a bake sale, new member initiation and officer elections. The book drive resulted in a collection of nearly 200 books, donated to Heritage Park. Approximately $100 and 30 toys were collected for the Kitty Love Drive, with donations being directed to Rikki’s Refuge. Sarah Ball, Chapter Vice President University of Michigan Mortar Board members have introduced a program that is a great asset to their campus: the Thesis Support Group, now in its second year. The program serves as a forum for students from all disciplines to share their theses and thought processes, allowing undergraduates to work with other students to give and receive constructive feedback. The Thesis Support Group attempts to place students with diverse interests and varying project topics into groups with one another so that students with an outside perspective can critique the work for its structure and logical flow, rather than its content. To be productive, all students are split into small autonomous groups of three to four students that meet on their own schedules. The project is chaired by Stephen Snyder and Patricia Chen. Rachel A. Brown, Chapter President University of Montana The Penetralia chapter’s spring semester brought a flurry of activities. The chapter has built a strong name on campus by regularly tabling and providing information about Mortar Board’s purpose and activities. The chapter also diligently works to better their community through a variety of service projects. Most recently, members helped the Watson Children’s Shelter to raise funds and awareness for the purchase of new clothes and necessities as the shelter expands to a new building. Members also participated in one of the chapter’s largest projects, “Reading is Leading” tutoring elementary students in math and reading in the Missoula Community with the America Reads program. The spring also brought the return of the chapter’s Last Lecture Series. The series’ first speaker was University of Montana President George M. Dennison, who recently announced his retirement. The Mortar Board chapter was thrilled and honored that his last speech as president was at Mortar Board’s Last Lecture Series. As graduation neared, the chapter capped of the year with the Senior Recognition event, highlighting the achievements of faculty-nominated seniors from each department and program. Finally, a deserving class of new members has been selected, tapped and initiated to continue the Penetralia legacy. Rebecca Smith, Chapter Director of Communications Northern Illinois University The Pleiades chapter is ringing in spring with a variety of events around the local community. Members celebrated Mortar Board Week by helping sort and pack canned goods at the Northern Illinois Food Bank; hosting a bake/book sale with proceeds going to Altrusa (a grant to buy books for local elementary schools); organizing books at the DeKalb County Public Library; and hosting a blood drive. Upcoming events include the Faculty/Staff Recognition Reception and the Last Lecture Series. Mortar Board is partnering with PRISM, a support network for the LGBT community, and the LGBT Resource Center to host the Last Lecture Series with Craig Seymour as the speaker for the event. Dr. Seymour is known nationwide as the author of All I Could Bare: My Life in the Strip Clubs of Gay Washington, D.C., in addition to being a writer for mainstream media outlets such as The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly and Vibe. Dr. Seymour is currently an associate professor of journalism at NIU. Other events included members celebrating Earth Day by planting trees around the NIU campus and raising money/walking in the DeKalb Relay for Life. In April, the chapter held social including a formal and the Membership Initiation Brunch. To carry on these and other Mortar Board traditions at NIU, the chapter welcomed 64 new members for the 2010-2011 academic year. Kayla Kling, Chapter Director of Communications Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 19 On Campus Ohio Northern University The Ohio State University The Aurora chapter spent the majority of the winter quarter continuing its community service program at the Ada Public Library. Through the library’s youth story time program, Mortar Board members are afforded the opportunity to connect with the citizens of Ada by reading to area children. The chapter also held the annual Favorite Professors Dessert, during which Mortar Board members were able to honor their favorite professors who exemplify the foundations of scholarship, leadership and service. Each member wrote a personal note to his or her selected professor, which was then framed and presented as a gift. Professors were introduced by their host Mortar Board member and were recognized for their contributions to the campus community. Most recently, the chapter carefully selected 50 well-qualified new members for Aurora chapter, who were tapped during Mortar Board Week on the day of Mortar Board’s founding, February 15. The chapter also selected three honorary members from ONU’s highly talented faculty. On February 18, the chapter joyfully initiated these new members and sadly retired the graduating seniors. Most of our new members’ families were able to surprise the initiates at the ceremony, which was held in ONU’s English Chapel, and afterward to attend a celebratory dinner in McIntosh Center. At dinner, new members introduced themselves and their family members in attendance. In coming weeks, the new class will vote on its incoming executive board and begin planning the 2010-2011 academic year. As this school year draws to a close, the Aurora chapter is looking to continue on its bright course in the capable hands of the next class of Mortar Board stars. Natalyn Giverson, Chapter Director of Communications In celebration of Mortar Board Week, the Mabel G. Freeman chapter hosted a campuswide book drive to support the “Reading is Leading” national project. During the month of February, the chapter collected more than 400 books, half of which were donated to the local Boys and Girls Club, with the other half distributed to Better World Books and Operation Buckeye. The chapter chose these recipients due to previous member involvement. Working with the organizations members had worked with in the past made the book drive extremely meaningful and a great success, despite the fact that several other campuswide book drives were occurring at the same time. Members also volunteered to help Operation Buckeye, an organization dedicated to sending care packages to soldiers overseas (including reading material to entertain those who keep us safe), earlier in the year. The organization’s founder, Jim Caronis, has given enormous service to the local and international community, and the chapter recognized this outstanding citizen with honorary Mortar Board membership. During Mortar Board Week, the chapter held a Mortar Board Career Night in conjunction with the Greater Columbus Mortar Board Alumni Chapter with a panel of career and job search experts. In March, the chapter also held a special “Conversation with Gordon Gee” in the Mortar Board Reading Room in the Thompson Library. Guests included Mortar Board alumni, members and, of course, University President Dr. E. Gordon Gee and Mortar Board Executive Director Jane A. Hamblin. Liane Longbottom, Chapter Secretary The Ohio State University Mortar Board members are pictured at the chapter’s “Conversation with Gordon Gee” held in the Mortar Board Centennial Suite at the university library. 20 Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 On Campus Purdue University The Barbara Cook chapter kicked off its busy spring semester with the annual Women of Purdue awards ceremony and dessert banquet, at which six women from Purdue’s administration were honored for their leadership and accomplishments. The chapter also recognized outstanding freshman student athletes for earning a 3.5 or higher in their first semester at Purdue with the 13th Annual Freshman ScholarAthlete Dessert. During Mortar Board Week, the chapter celebrated the “Reading is Leading” national project by hosting an afternoon literacy event filled with books, a library scavenger hunt, storybook reading by Purdue athletes, prizes, and theater play reading for 50 local grade school children, all in the company of school mascot Purdue Pete. Mortar Board had a blast, and so did the kids! Other Mortar Board Week events included raising more than 200 books as a part of a book drive, raising funds for Haiti Relief, and having a Mortar Board display case on campus. Finally, members are thrilled to offer ten $2,500 scholarships to undergraduate students who plan on attending graduate or professional school, as well as many other awards for faculty service, student community service and “unsung heroes.” Lindsay Van Houten, Chapter Director of Communications University of Redlands Students from all over campus nominated their favorite professors to be presented with the W.E.B.S. chapter’s annual Professor of the Year Award. After much deliberation, Mortar Board members made their selection from the top five, honoring Professor Judith Tschann at a special ceremony on March 9. Professor Tschann specializes in medieval literature, aided by her love of old English, old French and Latin. She has served as a leader at the institution by serving on the Women’s Faculty Caucus, Curriculum Committee, and the Academic Standards and Review Committee. Professor Tschann is the 51st Professor of the Year to be honored by the W.E.B.S. chapter. Several winners from previous years attended the awards dinner to show their support for the long-term faculty member, who has taught at the University of Redlands for 32 years. Kristin Smith, Chapter Communications Director San Diego State University The Jane K. Smith Cap and Gown chapter enjoyed a fun-filled fall semester that included old and new philanthropic activities as well as award ceremonies and fundraising successes. Now that the weather has changed – slightly, that is, being that San Diego’s spring is an average of 10 to 15 degrees cooler – a new season’s worth of events and plans have come to full fruition. The chapter began the season in early February by celebrating Mortar Board Week. Members sported their Mortar Board apparel and spent time tabling in the common areas of campus to advertise to students the benefits of being a leader, scholar and service representative on campus and in the community as a member of Mortar Board. Members also encouraged classmates and students involved in other Women of Purdue honorees stand in front of Mortar Board’s recently unveiled portraits of former Purdue Deans of Students and Mortar Board supporters. campus activities to consider applying to Mortar Board. Both word-ofmouth and classroom announcements were used to spread the word during Mortar Board Week. February events continued with Mortar Board’s Eighth Annual Backpack Stuffing event. The afternoon philanthropy project not only benefits the community by providing local elementary students with much-needed school supplies, but also provides an excellent opportunity for Mortar Board members to get to know fellow active students at the nearby University of San Diego and alumni living in the area. The Fourth Annual Dr. Henry L. Janssen Last Lecture Series presented by Mortar Board and Honors Council honored 2010 Distinguished Last Lecture Honoree Dr. Anne-Charlotte Harvey, Professor Emerita of theatre at San Diego State University. Dr. Harvey’s “Last Lecture” was titled Trasmatta- Rag Rug: The Weave of Life. The lecture welcomed a good turnout with members from the six honor societies on San Diego State’s campus, including numerous Mortar Board members. Finally, the end-of-year luncheon for San Diego State and the University of San Diego was hosted by the alumni chapter at the home of the alumni chapter president in early May. Both collegiate chapters always look forward to this event, which wraps up a year’s worth of activities. The Jane K. Smith Cap and Gown Mortar Board Chapter at San Diego State has enjoyed an eventful fall semester of activities and is planning on finishing the spring semester with more scholarship, leadership and service! Natalia Van Stralen, Chapter President University of Tennessee - Knoxville The Cap and Gown chapter has been off to a great year, continuing service projects from the previous semester and launching new community initiatives. The chapter’s primary ongoing project is “Reading is Leading.” By working with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, chapter members volunteer to create audio recordings of books. Another ongoing project that members help with is cleaning an area of campus through Adopt-a-Spot. New service initiatives during Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 21 On Campus the spring semester include providing clean-up for the campuswide Dance Marathon philanthropic event that raises money for Children’s Hospital, as well as volunteering at the Knoxville Marathon. Members pride themselves in giving back to their campus and community! The chapter has also experienced an exciting period of recruiting 55 outstanding new members who exhibit superior achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. The current class transitioned their legacy at the traditional Torchbearer Ceremony, a midnight meeting at which graduating seniors pass on the ideals and responsibilities of Mortar Board to the incoming class, named “Torchbearer” for its location by the Torchbearer statue, an icon of the university. Alumni attend the ceremony and share their experiences as a member of Mortar Board. The ceremony is a great way to challenge and inspire the new members to carry on the history of Mortar Board. The Knoxville chapter would not be the same without the dedication of its faculty advisor Jenny Wright Russell and the executive officers Caitlin Morris, Jessica Murphy, Chelsea Goodson, Justin Nepa, Shade King, Katie Downey, Whitney Bell, Jamil Price and me. Maleah Hayes, Chapter Director of Communications University of Utah The Acorn chapter has a close relationship with the terminally ill patients at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, regularly hosting entertaining events and donating gifts to the children as a part of a yearlong effort. On Halloween, Mortar Board members collected books to donate to these hopeful children. In December, the chapter bonded with patients with fun, wintry activities. Finally, in the spring, the chapter planned a Hollywood Hope Night. Complete with a Hollywood backdrop, dress-up costumes, celebrity-style photo ops and picture frame activities, the evening gave these children an opportunity to enjoy fun activities. Lauren Gehrke, Chapter Advisor During Mortar Board Week, the Pynchon chapter at Western New England College gained visibility by painting an oversized rock at a prime campus location. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Members of the Gold Caps chapter spent the evening of Friday, February 19 building relationships with their community at The Community Table, a local soup kitchen in Eau Claire. Mortar Board volunteers prepared and served food to the community, ate with new friends, and cleaned the soup kitchen after dinner. To incorporate the “Reading is Leading” national project, the chapter brought children’s books to be given to children and parents to pick up at The Community Table. The chapter is also dedicated to another one of Mortar Board’s ideals: leadership. Members hosted a new event dedicated to leadership: Leadership in Action Day on April 13 and 14. Through this event, students and administrators at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire were paired together throughout one of the two days. The students participated in the daily activities of the administrator, learning and sharing with one another. Debbie J. Ernie, Chapter Director of Communications Western New England College 2010-2011 Acorn Chapter President Allison Copeland enjoys crafts and snacks with a Primary Children’s Medical Center patient at the University of Utah chapter’s Hollywood Hope Night. 22 Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 This has been an amazing year for the Pynchon chapter. With the help of the school’s annual pep rally event, members were able to raise more than $2,000 for the Virtual Book Drive (ranking as the third highest donor nationally) and received an additional 50 books that were donated to a local elementary school. Chapter members also worked hard to become more visible during Mortar Board Week by painting a rock commonly used for campus publicity, selling t-shirts, hosting a Mortar Board Open House, having a “Fun”-raiser at Friendly’s, and so much more. The Open House was used as a recruitment opportunity to invite potential inductees to learn more about the values of Mortar Board. This way, candidates could meet active members and gain a better understanding of the organization, its activities, and its membership when filling out the application. Following new member initiation, the chapter has kicked off ideas for a few chapter projects including the “What I Wish I Knew” book to be handed out to freshman students on move-in day. Katie Grogan, Chapter President Are you in a Mortar Board family? Send the Forum high-resolution digital photos of you with your Mortar Board family members to mbforum@mortarboard.org Mortar Board Forum | Spring 2010 23 Mortar Board, Inc. National College Senior Honor Society 1200 Chambers Road, Suite 201 Columbus, Ohio 43212 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Columbus, Ohio Permit No. 4416